Washington, DC – After 43 days, the longest government shutdown in history ended last night after Congress passed a bill that was signed into law by the President. Extensions to the Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies, which help American families afford health care coverage, were not included in this package.
The shutdown deal funds the government until Jan. 30, 2026, when Congress will have to renegotiate federal funding. However, the Department of Agriculture will be funded for the full year, which means that SNAP will be funded through Sept. 30, 2026. Still, SNAP payments may face delays or additional hurdles, depending on the state.
Senate Republicans stated they would be open to a vote in December on an ACA subsidy bill, though some Republicans have already expressed they would not vote to extend subsidies without stricter limits to reproductive health. Premiums are estimated to more than double in 2026 if an extension is not passed.
“While we are relieved that essential programs like SNAP will resume, the Jan. 30 deadline threatens to prevent Southeast Asian American families and communities from accessing other necessary programs if Congress is unable to come to an agreement. Moreover, we are extremely concerned that ACA subsidy extensions were excluded from the final deal,” said Quyên Đinh, Executive Director of SEARAC. “Southeast Asian American families rely on those subsidies to afford health insurance. Without them, many families will be forced to decide between basic necessities or lifesaving care. It is inhumane and inexcusable, especially when this Administration has already inflicted so much harm on the American public. We urge Congress to extend ACA subsidies without limiting access to care. Additionally, we echo the call of our refugee rights partners and urge Congress to hold this Administration accountable to the refugee resettlement program.”
SEARAC previously responded to the historically low refugee cap here. You can take action by joining RCUSA’s campaign to urge your member of Congress to welcome refugees, regardless of their country of origin, faith, or ethnicity.
Media contact: Elaine Sanchez Wilson | elaine@searac.org